Posts tagged ‘trash’

Recycling is a complicated and often-unwieldy — but still important — task in the Alaska Bush. That’s why we’re happy to spread the word about Nome’s annual e-waste recycling event — and why we participate ourselves.

A recent collection of “e-waste” in Nome was a singular opportunity for our community to make rural Alaska a cleaner place to live. We were happy not only to spread the word about this important community need but also to take part in it!

For the past two years, Greg Mitchell has been fighting a one-man crusade against Nome’s litter. He’s walked Nome’s streets and scoured its beaches picking up cigarette butts, plastic bottles, pop cans, and more.

Recently, though, Mitchell’s been getting help. Calling it a “community beautification project,” he’s been accepting volunteers between the ages of 8 and 12 to help him in his fight against garbage. Parents sign a waiver granting their kids permission to pick up trash, while Mitchell provides safety gear, a trash bucket, and more. The first hour is free—Mitchell calls it the civic “honor hour”—but after that, Mitchell pays the kids in cash or in donated items like movie tickets. He says it gives kids something to do during the summer, helps keep the community clean, and even deters would-be litter bugs.